Council discusses testing and possible grant for manganese in drinking water

Councilmember Devin Krasowski raised a potential grant opportunity called the Emerging Contaminants Grant to address reported iron/manganese issues in some small-city water supplies. Public Works Supervisor Tyler Martin clarified that manganese is not a regulated contaminant and that the city does not routinely test for it: "it is not regulated contaminate so we don’t sample it, so he is not sure," Martin said, adding that manganese and iron are typically considered secondary contaminants affecting aesthetic qualities of water rather than primary health hazards.

Krasowski noted that other small cities had received roughly $2.2 million to drill new wells where manganese was confirmed and suggested that Notus first test wells #2 and #4; if manganese is present the city could file a Letter of Interest (LOI) with DEQ. City Engineer Antonio Conti cautioned that drilling a new well could require abandoning an old one and asked that staff not confuse well numbers; the council directed staff to continue research and testing before making a LOI filing decision.